Richard Barfield
@richardbarfield.bsky.social
Adviser on governance, risk and regulation in financial services. Developing skills in semi-retired activities and caretaker of the new, redesigned and updated https://BrexitFactBase.com London-based.
Lib Dems talking about the single market again - so here's a reminder of the flaws in that plan
UK in a Changing Europe@ukandeu.bsky.social · 7h ago"But good politics does not necessarily make good policy. At first glance, the single market might seem like the perfect compromise... But there are good reasons to think that – were a govt. to seriously pursue it – they might quickly discover numerous downsides." 🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/no-eea-sy-op...
Great post from Otti Vogt about leadership responses to the #Ceuta crisis. www.linkedin.com/posts/ottivo...
#leadership | Otti Vogt | 35 comments
GRACIAS PEDRO! Europe’s Last True Prime Minister Last week, Ceuta was not merely a border emergency. It was a moral X-ray of Western politics. In forty-eight hours, 72,000 people entered the enclave...
linkedin.com
Don't forget to sign European Movement UK's petition asking Andy Burnham to drop the red lines on Europe and set out a real plan for the UK's European future. Add your name here👇 www.europeanmovement.co.uk/5_asks_for_a...
Our 5 Asks for Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham must seize the moment to build a bold, forward-looking agenda for his administration to lead the UK towards a new European future.
europeanmovement.co.uk
The UK’s return to Erasmus+ shows what closer co-operation with Europe can deliver in practical terms: more opportunities to learn, train, teach, volunteer and build partnerships across borders. Find out more: www.intercom.org.uk/erasmusplus
Just published! latest newsletter which looks at #Ceuta and the new UK-EU agreement for #Gibraltar (and, in passing, some alarmist posts from British populist politicians). brexitfactbase.com/news/july-ne...
Brexit FactBase July Newsletter - “territories and treaties”, which looks at #Ceuta and the new UK-EU agreement for #Gibraltar (and, in passing, alarmist posts from British populist politicians). brexitfactbase.com/news/july-ne...
Apparently, devolved decision-making does not apply to data centres.
Prem Sikka@premnsikka.bsky.social · yesterdayApproval of east London datacentre labelled ‘slap in the face’ for local democracy. Datacentre prioritised over building affordable homes. Little attention to environmental issues. Govt overturning local council refusal is not devolution or democracy. Big business always wins.
Well worth a read. Big political choices for Burnham: data centres or housing; economic growth or environment? (BTW I can’t shed the feeling of tulip mania about AI and data centres.) giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Data centres vs housing: how London became a central battleground
The city has become the largest hub for AI power centres across Europe, competing with homes for energy, space and water. Its priorities are being called into question
giftarticle.ft.com
🇬🇧 #Clacton 🇪🇺 John Stevens offers a way out of Brexit. ✅ Vote hope ✅ Vote Stevens ✅ Vote Rejoin ❤️ Together, we be the start of something better.
After the cruel impact of changes to the skilled worker visa scheme, there’s another hostile action from the Home Office, this time directed at EU citizens granted right to remain after Brexit. These life shattering letters disrupt peoples’ lives built in the UK and are are utterly shameful.
‘Climate change kills’: Pedro Sánchez speaks plain truth to Spain’s deniers 👏👏👏 www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Climate change kills’: Pedro Sánchez speaks plain truth to Spain’s deniers
PM has long history of speaking out on realities of global heating but political opponents remain unnmoved
theguardian.com
‘Climate change kills’: Pedro Sánchez speaks plain truth to Spain’s deniers 👏👏👏 www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Climate change kills’: Pedro Sánchez speaks plain truth to Spain’s deniers
PM has long history of speaking out on realities of global heating but political opponents remain unnmoved
theguardian.com
My Sunday Times piece: 10-year plans are fine, but prime ministers don’t last that long these days. Where we do need a plan is for not continuing to kick the can down the road on debt: Andy Burnham’s ten-year plan won’t save UK from a debt trap www.thetimes.com/article/2efe...
Andy Burnham’s ten-year plan won’t save UK from a debt trap
The new PM wants lasting change in social care, defence and jobs, but however long he is in office he can’t lose sight of the debt trap in the distance
thetimes.com
Remember that these scaremongering Reform folks are doubly untruthful: overlooking the huge numbers of immediate returns and falsely implying that the migrants can enter Schengen
Sunder Katwala (sundersays)@sundersays.bsky.social · 5d agoBraverman: "make no mistake, these men are on their way to the UK right now" Farage: "before long, many will be crossing the Channel" [Would see big spike in Moroccan boat arrivals + asylum claims in next 3 months if true. V unlikely to be true].
Well worth a read. Big political choices for Burnham: data centres or housing; economic growth or environment? (BTW I can’t shed the feeling of tulip mania about AI and data centres.) giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Data centres vs housing: how London became a central battleground
The city has become the largest hub for AI power centres across Europe, competing with homes for energy, space and water. Its priorities are being called into question
giftarticle.ft.com
The BBC extends its poor sensationalist coverage of migration issues to Europe
Richard Barfield@richardbarfield.bsky.social · 4d agoKey information on Ceuta and Schengen is omitted from the #BBC News website. Its omission implies that Moroccans entering Ceuta enter the EU Schengen area - which they don’t (see quoted post below). www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
@stevepeers.bsky.social - a remarkable omission given the number of reporters credited with this piece.
Richard Barfield@richardbarfield.bsky.social · 4d agoKey information on Ceuta and Schengen is omitted from the #BBC News website. Its omission implies that Moroccans entering Ceuta enter the EU Schengen area - which they don’t (see quoted post below). www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Key information on Ceuta and Schengen is omitted from the #BBC News website. Its omission implies that Moroccans entering Ceuta enter the EU Schengen area - which they don’t (see quoted post below). www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Spain's PM blames traffickers after 60,000 migrants reach Ceuta from Morocco
Spain said most had returned to Morocco by Friday evening, as Italy suspended its Schengen agreement on free movement with Madrid.
bbc.co.uk
Richard Barfield@richardbarfield.bsky.social · 5d ago#Ceuta & #Schengen 1. Travellers can cross from Morocco into Ceuta w/out a Schengen visa, but that doesn’t grant entry into mainland Spain or rest of Schengen 2. Moving from Ceuta to mainland Spain involves border controls - a passport/ID check - since it means entering Schengen.
BREAKING: Labour's Bev Craig wins the Greater Manchester Mayoral Election, defeating Reform by a landslide after the second round LAB: Bev Craig: 309,525 (66%) REF: Sian Astley: 157,178 (33%)
In an organisation with effective governance, Infantino would now have to resign.
Culmination of my seven-part series on Brexit for the 10th anniversary of the disastrous referendum. Please circulate widely. @chrisgrey.bsky.social @ottocr.at @fascinatorfun.bsky.social @guitarmoog.bsky.social @nialloconghaile.bsky.social northeastbylines.co.uk/news/brexit/...
Brexit Part 7: The Way Forward is Joining the EU, but How?
There is increasing consensus that Brexit was a terrible mistake. The slogan "Make Brexit Work" is an oxymoron. Brexit cannot work. Joining the EU is the only way forward.
northeastbylines.co.uk
Ten days in to Andy Burnham's government, and we've seen policies on social care, the cost of living and the Middle East, but what about Europe? Read more here: www.europeanmovement.co.uk/ten_days_no_...
@richardbarfield.bsky.social is right. This is feeble. Altho’ I don’t think a CU delivers enough £ bang for political buck given the amount we are losing year in year out. The Brexit cranks are going to whinge anyway so why not make the move something that will really deliver economic clout?
Richard Barfield@richardbarfield.bsky.social · 6d agoJonathan Reynolds makes a depressingly weak, one-sided argument. He ignores the potential economic benefits of a customs union to the UK and, more worryingly, the much bigger benefits of the single market. The Burnham government should show more ambition for the UK. www.ft.com/content/b08b...
In an organisation with effective governance, Infantino would now have to resign.
I can’t believe these arrests are still happening - the new PM could end this utterly absurd proscription if he chose. As Jonathon Porritt says - trying to save lives is not terrorism. Exposing this government’s complicity in genocide is not terrorism
Defend Our Juries@defendourjuries.bsky.social · 6d agoNEW: Sir Jonathon Porritt, arrested under Terrorism law outside Westminster Magistrates Court. As police escorted him away he said "I am a supporter of Palestine Action, trying to save lives is not terrorism, exposing this Governments complicity in genocide is not terrorism." www.wedonotcomply.org
